What He Bargains (What He Wants, Book Nineteen) (24 page)

“I understand, Jake—I think I do, anyway.”

Jake seemed to regain his composure. “Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that I trust him, but I’m still the one making the decisions about my life and career. Kurt has to accept that this is how I want to handle things, even if he doesn’t like it. We sink or swim together.”

“I guess that means so do I,” Raven said.

Jake laughed a little. “I guess it does.” He cleared his throat, seeming to forget the emotions from a moment ago. “Besides, once Kurt talks to you and hears your sweet voice, I’m sure he’ll be completely on board with everything.”

Raven almost laughed at that, but she managed to restrain herself.

It wasn’t until the door opened and Skylar looked out at them that Raven realized just how long they’d been standing out there in the hallway in front of her room.

“I heard you guys talking out here forever,” she said. “At first I thought it was the people from the room across the hall, but then I realized it was you two. What the heck?”

“Sorry, we got caught up going over some silly stuff,” Jake said, waving it all away as inconsequential. “But the important thing is how you’re doing.”

Skylar sighed. “I’m okay,” she said, turning and letting them into her room. “I mean, I’m scared. I’m really, really scared.”

They followed her inside and Jake sat down next to Raven on the couch. It was weird, Raven thought, as his leg pushed slightly against hers. It did feel like they were boyfriend and girlfriend, and she had to admit that she liked the feeling quite a lot.

But it’s not true. You’re just fantasizing again. He’s sitting next to you on a piece of furniture, Raven. That’s it.

As she sat beside him, felt his comforting strength, and heard him make casual conversation with Skylar, Raven couldn’t stop thinking that this all seemed so natural and real.

It’s like we were meant to be together.

“Do you ladies want to get something to eat?” Jake asked.

“Sure, I’m hungry,” Raven said. And then she wondered, would this be a public outing where they’d have to pretend to be together?

“Actually, I can’t go,” Skylar said.

“Why not?” Raven asked her.

“My parents are on their way here. I called and told them what’s going on.”

Raven looked at her friend and realized that Skylar’s problems were way more serious than anything going on with Jake or Kurt or Raven’s worries. Skylar might have cancer, and she was going to need support.

“Do you want me to wait here with you, Sky?” she asked. “I don’t mind.”

“No,” Skylar told her. “You two go eat and have fun. I’m fine.”

“Sky—“

“Just go, have some fun for me,” Skylar smiled sadly.

Jake and Raven tried to talk Skylar into letting them stick around and keep her company, but she insisted on them going out to lunch without her.

Moments later, the two of them were leaving Skylar’s room and then getting on the elevator. Raven looked at Jake, who was humming softly to himself. She wondered if he was humming one of his own songs, or someone else’s.

The elevator reached the lobby and they started out. Before reaching the revolving door, Raven grabbed Jake’s arm. “Wait a second,” she said, and he turned and faced her.

“Something wrong?”

“I just—I don’t know what we’re even doing right now,” Raven whispered. “Are we going to…you know…” She lowered her voice even more. “Are we pretending?”

Jake grabbed her hand and pulled her close and then leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, causing her to shudder. “Just follow my lead.”

“Okay,” she said, not quite knowing what that meant.

And then they were exiting the hotel, and instantly they were swarmed by photographers, paparazzi. The paparazzi had come from out of nowhere, seemingly, and there were at least ten of eleven, and she could see more running in this direction, like a swarm of bees chasing honey.

The questions were already being thrown out.

“Hey, Jake, what do you want to say about the controversy?”

“Do you really hate people who commit suicide?”

“Oprah said you should be ashamed. Any comment?”

“Jake, do you think people suffering from depression are just weak?”

“Word is that you’ve been dropped by Target.”

Jake grabbed Raven’s hand. “Come on, walk with me,” he said, and they continued walking despite the commotion. As they moved, the photographers followed them, until finally they were able to duck into a cab and drive off.

Raven glanced at Jake when they got in the car. His eyes were far away, as he told the driver to take them to Times Square.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Raven asked him.

He glanced at her. “Why wouldn’t I?”

She shook her head. “I know what you’re doing, Jake.”

Jake sighed. “Enlighten me, Raven.”

“You knew there were going to be paparazzi outside the hotel. Normally you’d have a car waiting, but you took us out there on purpose, wanting them to get plenty of pictures.”

He smirked at her comment. “That’s the idea. I don’t see the problem.”

“We need to be smart about it,” she told him. “People are really angry at you right now. If we go to Times Square, things could get out of control. Is that what you want?”

“Maybe. Let’s just get it all out there,” he said. “Let’s not be afraid of it.”

“I’m not afraid of it,” she said, knowing that she wasn’t telling the truth.

“Well you’re acting scared,” he told her. “This is what it’s going to be, Raven. I told you it’ll be intense and scary and overwhelming. Those photographers back there? Those guys are nothing. They’re just the tip of the iceberg.”

Raven took a deep breath and let it out. “All I’m saying is that maybe we should be a little less impulsive about how we come out to the world, Jake. You’re trying to just rip the Band-Aid off and I’m saying maybe we should take it slowly.”

“That’s not how I do things. Let them take their pictures, let everyone go nuts. And then, we’ll get past it.”

But Raven wasn’t sure. The cab driver was watching them with eyes that showed he knew exactly who he had in his car.

The paparazzi had some pictures, and soon they’d be out amidst the crowds in Time Square, and for all she knew a riot would break out. Jake wasn’t with his security detail, nobody could protect them now if things got out of hand.

Jake was trying to solve it all at once, to just jump in the deep end and force himself to swim. She had to give him credit for being courageous, but Raven wasn’t sure that this was the best plan.

She’d envisioned something more calm, less frenzied. She’d imagined them doing an interview together, going out at night, just the two of them—with security—making sure to avoid most of the press and the crowds.

Sure, there would be pictures taken and word would filter out, but it would be controlled. It would be slow.

This just seemed reckless.

Eventually, they reached Times Square, and the crowds were swarming, people marching in controlled chaos up and down the streets. Tourists mixed with natives, police, the peanut and hot dog vendors, guys selling tickets to comedy shows and bus tours.

As the cab pulled up, Raven stared out the window. “I just don’t know about this.”

“Come on, let’s grab a bite to eat,” Jake said lightly, opening the door of the cab.

“I really, really don’t think we should do this,” she told him.

“Raven, come on. We’ve done enough talking. Now it’s time for action. You’re starting to remind me of one of those guys I used to serve with in Afghanistan. They loved to draw up battle plans, but when it came time to execute in real world conditions, they suddenly lost all taste for combat.”

“Jake, I hate to break it to you but we’re not fighting a war.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Now get out of the cab.” He paid the driver, who exclaimed his thanks at the generous tip.

Raven’s heart was beating fast in her chest. She couldn’t believe that this was real. She was going to walk through Time freaking Square with Jake Novak. When his manager found out about this, he was going to go nuts.

Is that what you’re afraid of?
She asked herself.

Maybe Jake’s right about you. You’re all talk, no action. Now is the time to step and do what you said you were going to do. Or are you going to run back to the hotel with your tail between your legs and then hop the first bus back to Boston?

Maybe you’re not cut out for this life.

Jake extended his hand into the cab. He looked right at her with his brown eyes, and they were kind and protective. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve got this.”

And she let him take her by the hand, pull her out of the cab, and then they were walking through the crowd in Times Square. Raven looked up and saw a huge billboard hanging above the square, and it was changing from one picture to another.

Suddenly, she saw a shot of Jake playing guitar with a ripped shirt, showing off his chiseled body. He was twenty feet tall and beautiful. THE NEW TOUR STARTS NOW. JAKE NOVAK LIVE IN CONCERT.

She pointed up at it and Jake laughed, as the people passed by them.

It took a few minutes for him to be noticed. At first, it was just one or two mouths dropping open as they walked past this person or that one. But soon, they were gathering a little following of people, and there was a buzz starting.

It was energy, and Raven could feel it building as they continued walking.

Soon people were shouting his name, and then there were cameras being held up to take video from all sides.

Raven looked at Jake and he was laughing, his eyes were bright.

He loves this
, she thought.
He loves the action, he loves the challenge
.

But nobody seemed angry, people weren’t yelling obscenities like she thought they might.

Finally, when things got so bad that it was getting hard to keep moving, Jake grabbed Raven by the hand and ducked into a restaurant. The place was nearly empty, which was surprising, given its location.

But luckily it was rather dim and dark inside. There was a huge bar and plenty of tables surrounding it, with many TV screens showing different sporting events on each television.

A waitress caught sight of Jake and was about to say something, but when she realized who he was, her mouth just hung open.

Raven turned and saw a crush of people just outside the doors, many of them peering into the restaurant. Strangely, nobody tried to come inside, almost as if they thought they’d be told to leave.

“Table for two,” Jake told the stunned waitress, who looked as if she’d just swallowed her tongue.

“Oh…oh….sure.” She grabbed menus and led them to a booth in the corner. “Is this okay?” she asked, staring only at Jake.

“This is great…” he peered at her name tag. “…Melanie.”

A huge smile came across her face. “I really love your movies,” she said, as they sat down at the booth.

Raven sat down and Jake slid in next to her, his hip bumping hers. “Thanks, Melanie. That means a lot to me,” he said to the waitress. He grinned and the waitress blushed.

“Drinks?” she asked, still looking just at Jake.

“I’ll have a Ginger Ale,” Raven said.

The waitress never so much as glanced in her direction.

“And a water for me,” Jake told her. “No lemon, Melanie.”

Melanie’s face was bright red. “Got it, Jake.” She turned and walked away from the table, a tiny squeal coming out as she went to get their drinks.

Raven watched her huddle with the rest of the wait staff, obviously breaking the big news to them about who was in their restaurant.

Jake was unconcerned. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop.

The waitress came and put down their drinks. They hadn’t even looked at the menu yet.

“Any idea what you want to eat?” the waitress asked.

“What’s your best dish?” Jake asked her.

“Oh, probably the Times Burger,” she said. “It’s our signature—people love it.”

“Let’s do two of those,” Jake said, winking.

Raven groaned. “You don’t even know if I like burgers.”

“Everyone likes burgers,” he replied simply.

“Yeah, everyone likes burgers,” the waitress agreed. She batted her eyelashes at him coquettishly.

Clearly
, Raven thought,
we’ve moved past shyness and now we’re onto openly throwing ourselves at the superstar.

“Thanks, Mel,” Jake told Melanie, winking.

She giggled. “I’ll bring you some nachos on the house,” she told him. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.” And then she left the table.

“Is this what girls act like around you all the time?” Raven asked him.

“Pretty much,” Jake said. “It’s a tough life.”

“Ugh, it’s kind of gross.” Raven shook her head. She couldn’t tell if Jake was showing off, trying to get under her skin, or if this really just was normal for him.

All she knew was that none of this was normal for her. Having Jake sitting next to her, his body so close, acting like they were together, it was all too much.

Outside, a crowd of people had formed and would be waiting for them when they exited.

What kind of life was this really going to be? She wondered. Was she up to it?

On the television screen right above them, Raven caught a glimpse of a news story about Jake. There was the same kind of headline she was used to seeing.
Jake Novak Under Fire
, it read. She couldn’t hear what they were saying because the volume was down, but she couldn’t imagine.

Did he even notice the news story about him? Had he just learned to tune it all out?

A few minutes later, the waitress brought out a plate of nachos with cheese and diced chicken over the top. It looked delicious, and as Raven dug in and started to eat, she was almost able to feel like this was going to be okay.

Maybe everything really would blow over after a few days, like Jake said it might if they ripped the Band-Aid off.

And then someone came into the restaurant. Raven noticed the man walking inside and looking around as if for a friend. But when the man’s eyes spotted them, he turned in their direction.